Shell Foundation - Overview

What is the Shell Foundation?

The Shell Foundation was launched by Shell Group in June 2000 to develop sustainable solutions to the social problems arising globally and locally from the production and consumption of energy and improve the development prospects for vulnerable communities impacted by globlisation.

Further information is available at the:

There are four Group-level programmes of which the first three are run as part of the Shell Foundation:

Shell is one of the world's major oil and energy providers. Energy is essential for social and economic development, for poverty alleviation and improving quality of life, but there is growing concern about the need to reduce the environmental impacts of energy use (particularly fossil fuels). Shell's business is at the heart of these two key sustainable development issues: the impact of energy consumption on the global environment; and the reality that two billion people in developing countries lack access to modern energy services and remain in poverty. This has led to the theme of Sustainable Energy and the development of 'The Sustainable Energy programme'. Click below more details.

Shell is one of the largest and most international companies in today's increasingly global economy. While the globalisation of which we are part - the integration of local and national economies into the world economy - brings many benefits, it can also increase the problems and disparities faced by communities and vulnerable groups.

A significant challenge for sustainable development is therefore how to spread the benefits of economic development and globalisation more widely. This leads to the theme of improving the capacity and sustainability of poor and marginalised communities, and increasing their opportunities to benefit from economic development and globalisation. The second Group programme is The Sustainable Communities Programme. It will support projects world-wide that have these objectives. Click on link below to refer to the Sustainable Communities website for more details.

In many countries Shell is a major economic player. Most sustainable development concerns are about the environmental or social impact of economic activity. However, a country's ability to pursue sustainable development is enhanced greatly by its economic success. In turn, long-term economic health depends on a mixed and vibrant small and medium enterprise sector. An important challenge, therefore, is how to stimulate enterprise while furthering sustainable development. The third Group social investment programme focuses on youth enterprise, particularly through the Shell LiveWIRE programme. Click on link below for more details.

The SCSF was set up in 1997 to mark the centenary of Shell Transport &Trading. Each year it funds 50 postgraduate students from developing countries (defined as countries not in the OECD) to come and study in the UK. The programme also aims to increase cross-cultural understanding by stimulating international exchange, and to strengthen links between Britain and the countries concerned.

Three or four students from China are sponsored each year.

All applications must be made direct to the university, not to the SCSF. Further details are available at: